Comparing it with acrylic paint, many people shy away from watercolor because it is a medium more difficult to control. While that is true to some degree, watercolor is actually pretty easy and economical to get started. Once you get enough practice and understanding of its properties, you will find it an exciting medium to use as you progress.

In this article, we've listed seven tips beginners can keep in mind as they use watercolor as an alternative medium. Read on!

#1: Use a portable set of watercolor paints

When you buy your first set of watercolor paints, you will find that you can choose from three formats: pan, tube and liquid. As a beginner, we suggest you start with something more compact, portable and easy to dispense such as a watercolor pan.

​This way, you'll have easy access to a variety of colors.

#2: Have at least 3 to 4 brushes

​Brushes for acrylic and watercolor are different. Watercolor brushes have soft and long hairs and are made to move a watery medium. We suggest you use soft synthetic brushes as these are less expensive than the ideal watercolor brush made of sable.

As a beginner, have at least one or two large flat bruses for laying a wash and several round brushes of different sizes for your painting's details.

Clean your brushes thoroughly after every yse with running water and some soap.

#3: Use medium-thick paper made for watercoloring

Remember: the heavier the paper, the thicker it is. We suggest you start with good watercolor paper with at least 140 lbs. of weight. Thick watercolor papers can take in a lot of water and it won't buckle as you paint on it. 90-lb. watercolor paper might be too thin for your watercolor practice and experimentation.

#4: Plan your composition properly

​This way, you will know where your highlights should be. When it comes to watercolor painting, the white of your paper will always be the lightest part of your work. As you paint from light to dark, you need to have an idea where those areas will be so you can paint around them.

As a guide, you can use a masking fluid to protect your paper's lightest areas. Masking fluid dries into rubber so it's easy to remove with your finger.

#5: When mixing paint, mix more than you will need

​Unless you're already a pro when it comes to mixing colors, sometimes it can be difficult to mix and arrive at the same color twice. It's better to have a combination of colors in excess than mix a new one. This way, replicating color combinations won't be hard for you to do. This rule applies when you need to lay a wash and even when you're making the fine details of your artwork.

​On a side note, you might find this watercolor mixing chart a fun activity to do! Make your own color combinations and schemes!

#6: Test your colors first before proceeding

​You can't immediately tell how an exact color looks like until you apply it on paper. Especially when it comes to watercolor, color tends to be appear lighter when dried than when it is wet. Make sure to test your colors first on an extra piece of paper before applying it on your artwork. This way, you know you're using colors that you really want.

#7: Don't stretch watercolor painting to look like oil or acrylic

​You might find acrylic paint your comfort zone, but remember that it behaves significantly different from watercolor. Watercolor is amazing for its transparent quality and luminescence. Therefore, don't overwork it!

Enjoy watercolor's ability to reveal layers of transparency! Unlike oil and acrylic, watercolor allows light to travel through the different paint layers and reflect it back up off the white of your art paper.

Experiment with water too! To have more control of your paint with less transparency, use less water on your brush. For more unpredictability and greater transparency, use more water.

Learn watercolor at Art Smart!

​Expand your art medium at Art Smart! Learn how to use watercolor properly and the different strokes and artworks you can do. We follow a strict 2:1 student to teacher ratio to ensure you are expertly guided as you learn watercolor.